This trans model used her gown to send a message to anti-LGBT countries

Valentijn de Hingh has long used fashion to get her story across. But recently, the transgender model used her celebrity to amplify the stories of others in the LGBT community.

As part of the opening walk for Amsterdam’s annual EuroPride Parade, de Hingh — the parade’s first trans ambassador — modeled a patchwork gown made of flags from 72 countries where homosexuality is still outlawed, effectively transforming the celebration into a moment of protest.

That little lady wearing the big dress is me. @mattijs_van_bergen and @oerivanwoezik co-created this dress made of 72 flags, representing the 72 countries where homosexuality is still outlawed. Every country that changes its legislation will have its flag replaced by a rainbow flag. Let's hope this dress will represent a patchwork of rainbows sooner rather than later! 🌈 BIG THANKS TO @mattijs_van_bergen @oerivanwoezik @pieterhenket @rijksmuseum @jochemk @arnout_amsterdam ❤️❤️❤️ #EUROPRIDE #europride2016 #ambassador #coc

The statement-cum-call-to-action was fashioned by designer Mattijs van Bergen and artist Oeri van Woezik in partnership with the COC Nederland, an Amsterdam-based LGBT advocacy organization dedicated to global LGBT equality as well as the decriminalization of sexual orientation and gender identity.

In an Instagram post, de Hingh explained that the dress was still a work in the progress and that the collaborators hoped to replace individual flags with rainbow flags as legislation evolved.

For now, Dutch photographer and director Pieter Henket was present to capture the original tribute, which he shot in front of Rembrandt's "The Night Watch" at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum.